Executed for being black?

[sp1814]

This is a big news story in the States, which raises the question - dos being a young black man in a hoodie immediately suggest that you're probably up to no good, and can therefore expect to be executed at any point?

I've put the question in overly emotional term, because the Zimmerman case SHOULD stir strong emotions.

17 year old kid, Trayvon Martin goes to a convenience store.

On the way back, self-appointed Neighbourhood Watch leader George Zimmerman spots him, and calls the police because the kid is acting suspiciously (ie. he keeps looking round at the car which Zimmerman is driving very slowly behind him - who wouldn't!)

Whilst on the phone to the police, he is clearly told NOT to follow the kid, and is thanked for calling in.

He continues to follow muttering about f**king c00ns.

Tray on Martin's girlfriend tells him that he'd better run, because God only knows why he's being followed and she's afraid for him.

He breaks into a run, Zimmerman follows, jumps out, there's 'an altercation' and Trayvon is shot dead.

Bu t get this - the police didn't check Zimmerman had been drinking or taking drugs, they didn't arrest him, and they didn't do a background check.

They simply believed his version of events, leaving him free to go home.

Trayvon Martin was 'armed' with a packet of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

I feel almost no sympathy for kids who are murdered in gang 'turf wars' - if you run with the pack...etc...etc....

But this case is horrific because this wasn't some gang member. It was just an ordinary kid.

If Zimmerman had been black and the kid was a white college student walking through a predominantly black area, would he have been treated so leniently?

http://abcnews.go.com...e-timeline-of-events/

[jno]

The young man was visiting his father and his father's girlfriend in a "gated community", which appears to have been some sort of housing estate.

http://www.news4jax.c...0/9693380/-/s81nfo/-/

Zimmerman is apparently hispanic rather than white. He'd been in a bit of trouble before

http://www.bostonhera...=home&position=recent

There are still disputes rumbling on about the facts so I can't be sure what to make of them. But as things stand it does seem Trayvon was shot dead for the crime of being black and carrying an iced tea.

[trt]

Two British guys were shot dead last year by a black 16 year old and the court case is happening now.

The only thing the the English guys did wrong was to wander into a rough area of the City a bit drunk.

They were executed as well, so whats the difference?

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// I read the headline AOG.....I'm not going to bother reading the rest. The Daily Mail excusing the murder of an innocent black teenager,no doubt! ///

You should not speculate unless you are prepared to read what it says.

That's how unfounded rumours get around.

[jackthehat]

<<They were executed as well, so whats the difference? >>

(The usual caveats applying....) These innocent white men were executed by a black teenager (apparently) whilst he was carrying out a robbery. And he is now on trial for that.

Trayvon Martin was in a place he was allowed to be, walking in a manner not against the law and carrying a legally acquired can of drink.
Zimmerman decided to act as judge, jury and executioner and killed him
And he has not even been taken in for questioning.

THAT is the difference!!!

[anotheoldgit]

trt

Yes I read that also, strange why no one has made any comments about that, those poor lads were on holiday in Florida.

I wonder if Cameron will start the ball rolling?

[jackthehat]

I didn't make any comments on that because it has *nothing* to do with the execution of Trayvon Martin!!

Stop trying to de-rail threads by trying to compare apples with oranges.

[ummmm]

//That's how unfounded rumours get around. //

Exactly...so stop reading the tripe. You are looking for articles to justify the murder of an innocent 'black' teenager!

[tamborine]

Murder by 16y black boy of 2 Brits in last year. Any wonder Florida is trigger-happy.

http://news.sky.com/h...news/article/15975114

[sp1814]

tambourine - as has been mentioned a couple of times now:

White tourists murdered results in a quick arrest of black accused.

Black kid killed for 'looking suspicious', and perpetrator isn't breathalysed, arrested and doesn't have his story checked.

Can you imagine the outcry if the police hadn't bothered launching an investigation into the murder of the British tourists? Say if they'd found a couple of lads who claimed the Brits had tried to come on to them, so they'd shot them in self defence - and the cops believed it?

This is the reason for the outcry.

[tamborine]

One is hispanic brown t'other is african black - both have black hair & brown eyes. Color isn't the issue imo. It's USA & its weapons culture and we must respect other cultures.

[tamborine]

sp, if you came onto my gated property and I shot you, ofcourse I would claim self-defense. You're dead & without witnesses but your mum might say what a bonny lad you were :)

One is allowed to use 'reasonable force' in UK.

[jackthehat]

You can usually be relied upon to make barking mad statements, but I really think you have excelled yourself, this time, tambo.

He was a legitimate visitor to the gated community. He was walking along the street/road. He was carrying nothing more than a can of iced-tea. He was shot dead.

Where is the self-defence in that?!?!

[ummmm]

She walks among us ...!!!!

[jno]

how much force is "reasonable" to stop someone drinking iced tea, I wonder?

"Just put down the tea and step away... slowly... ah what the hell, I'll shoot you anyway."